CRUSADER: Why must landlords put up with vile online trolls?

CRUSADER: Why must landlords put up with vile online trolls?

10:19 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago 28

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Landlords in the UK know they aren’t popular with politicians, councils, tenant activist organisations and lots of tenants – but do we really deserve the vile online landlord harassment that takes place? I ask because this week sees another activist urging followers to channel their frustration ‘into hating your landlord more’.

I wasn’t going to give him the benefit of publicity, but he goes on to say: ‘Plant Japanese knotweed in the garden the day before you move out so their property value collapses, pour oil down the sink, steal absolutely everything that isn’t on the inventory even if you don’t want it, get active in your tenants’ union’.

Landlords criticised on social media

That’s nice, isn’t it? I’m sure there are lots of landlords who have been subjected to awful social media posts and campaigns that have been hurtful and undermined their confidence.

On top of everything that’s going on, this is another reason why many will wonder why we even bother offering homes to rent. Really, why do we do it?

I’m sure there are landlords reading this who can reveal what’s been said about them and the above statement will pale in comparison. But it shouldn’t.

Landlord harassment from online trolling is all part of the general malaise and belief that landlords have got it coming. Why? Because we take time to invest and offer safe and comfortable homes to rent.

Landlords have been targeted

Both landlords and tenants are faced with a UK property sector that is a complex and often contentious landscape.

In recent years, landlords have become increasingly targeted by internet trolling loons who engage in abusive and threatening behaviour.

Some of those hurling insults may have been evicted for a reason – not paying rent, trashing the property or being awful to the neighbours, for example.

The big worry is that there are so few landlords willing to speak out about how we are treated. Even publishing in your bio that you work as a landlord is an invitation for sniping comments.

The likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have become breeding grounds for online trolls venting against landlords.

On top of that there are tenant review sites of landlords that can sometimes be exploited for malicious purposes. Strangely, there are no ‘rate your tenant’ review sites for landlords – they would undoubtedly be shut down for being exploitative or disrespectful.

Plus, the anonymous forums and discussion boards can be home to toxic communities.

Landlords should be respected

Why are landlords targeted online? Put simply we need to be respected by the same politicians, councils and tenant activist groups that go out of their way to malign us.

Yes, there are bad landlords out there but don’t tar all of us with the same brush.

I’m sure that the tenant harassment of landlords will see many suffering with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

And the negative online reviews and comments – which don’t offer a right of reply – can harm a landlord’s reputation.

Don’t do this!

I’m sure experts will be recommending that we monitor social media platforms to check for negative comments, but I would strongly recommend you don’t do this.

I’ve just done a quick check and can report that there are idiots, critics and trolls saying terrible things – simply because we are landlords.

Should you check yourself, not only do you risk becoming upset at a comment that might have been made by a tenant who you may have helped previously, but the overall negative and libellous commentary is disheartening.

I suppose some would say we should engage calmly and professionally, avoiding personal attacks with the commentators.

But again, I fear you’ll be on a hiding to nothing. Remember, there’s a reason that people say: ‘Don’t feed the trolls’.

And anyway, most of us are too busy to be distracted like this – and will only feel even worse about what we do.

Landlords are not immune

The bottom line is that landlords, like many other professionals, are not immune to online abuse.

The negative impact of landlord trolling can be profound, affecting our mental health, reputation and business operations.

It’s essential to understand the specific challenges landlords face – if only there was a landlord organisation working hard to do so on our behalf!

We don’t have to endure vile abuse but I’m guessing that as the Renters’ Rights Bill makes its way through Parliament the trolling will get worse.

It will worsen as landlords defend offering homes for a payment – and why we do it.

The Bill will see the abolition of Section 21 – but it won’t stop evictions – it won’t. No one, other than landlords, seems to appreciate this.

But we get slammed for saying it, nevertheless.

Rent controls don’t work

Calls for rent controls also spark an online discussion that’s hard to win.

Tenant groups – and I see the Greens are repeating the message this week – are saying rent controls work elsewhere.

They have never worked anywhere! But we can’t get our message out there.

I’m at a loss as to why this happens.

If you want to explain what we do to the pleasant @istreasatuatha on Twitter, then feel free.

He won’t listen. They never do.

Indeed, when the Scottish Landlords Network reposted his comments on Facebook, the original poster was told – and he replied: “ahahahaha”. (I’m really starting to wish I was making all this up).

Perhaps when there is nowhere left to rent then he and his fellow critics might stake a step back and wonder where all those awful landlords went.

Until next time,

The Landlord Crusader


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Comments

Cider Drinker

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17:56 PM, 7th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

I always used to check a potential tenant’s online presence. Any hint of anti-landlord sentiment would rule them out of the race.

I’m lucky because my tenants like me. They don’t want to move because I treat them with respect and deal with any issues in a timely fashion.

I understand which landlords are hated. There are plenty of bad ones. Many raise rents because interest rates rose. I’m sorry, but that shouldn’t be the tenants’ concern. They rent. It is not their fault that we paid too much for a property or that we needed a mortgage to buy it.

The country would be better without the PRS is, I’m afraid, the unpalatable truth.

Paul Essex

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20:24 PM, 7th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

I feel you may have consumed too much cider. Modern work frequently involves short term contracts and moving away from family, mortgages are not possible for the majority of these people. The PRS thus meets a basic need for these people - get rid of us and there really will be a breakdown in society.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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10:23 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

The X Tweet that the Crusader is referring to has blown up on Social Media. I first saw it posted on a landlord Facebook Group and it got 86 comments in a matter of minutes.

As soon as I saw it I reported it to Facebook as Hate Speech and also for inciting criminal activity including theft.

I would urge all landlords in Scotland to familiarise themselves with the name and face of this individual and his friends to avoid the carnage that would undoubtedly follow from a bad decision to give him the keys to their property.

In fact, I was so incensed that I did a bit more digging, found the details of his full name, employer and other affiliations and came up with a few extra ways (all perfectly legal and above board) to serve some well deserved karma back to him.

GlanACC

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10:23 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

S21 going is actually a good thing in one way, for an S8 you must provide a reason for your action. This should highlight the number of eviction due to non payers. Lets see what Shelter and GR have to say then

Mick Roberts

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10:30 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Well said Crusader.
I've had over the years loads of Labour trolls having go's at me, then I end up winning em round. They don't understand cause they've never took the time to listen to the Landlords side.

Your story above, the hater will end up giving tenants he's supporting, even more expensive rents if they carry on with this hatred.

I often tag Shelter and Generation Rent and Acorn Renters Union to get them debating. But they never engage as they can't win with a Landlord who don't want his houses anyway and only keeping them for the tenants. And £200pm below market rent won't pay for the 2024 changes they calling for.

TheMaluka

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10:31 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

It matters not what they say about landlords or me in particular. I have a long queue of decent people wanting accommodation, willing to wait until a property becomes available.

Kev Kirkby

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10:56 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Okay here goes.
I'm a long term tenant, 20 years next year in the same property.
And as a tenant I have to say that this moron that has posted this msg asking for the tenants to be destructive and outright vile on leaving the property is in my mind vile.
What the moron does not understand especially these days with everything that's going on in this country is that we need private landlords more than ever and the tenants need to work with not against for the more landlords decide to say sod it I'm out of here means there is less properties that are available for the renter, it's a domino effect and the only ones that win at the end of the day are the big corporations and banks that come in and hoover up, and at the end of the day, they would and are the worst kind of landlord you can have.
Any one with a brain can see what the government (both cheeks of the same bum) have been up to and are pushing for.
The lack of social housing doesn't help, and that is part of the plan as well, over the last 30 years they could of built plenty - councils plead poverty but many that are run properly are sitting on million in reserves etc, taking as much as they can in fees, licences etc from the private landlord in what I convider a big con on their part to help drive the private landlord out of the sector..
I've been following the rented sector for a few years now, in my own interest as I could never afford to buy my own place due to my being stupid in the past, put all my money into a business not property that ultimately failed.
In a nutshell as far as I can see, the moron that has written the tweet who is obviously very bitter needs a wake up call and a bit of education.
He needs to see along with every other moron that with the population expanding by just under a million a year via legal and illegal migration that having a cooperation between landlord and tenant has become essential now.
The tenants need a roof and the landlord needs to pay the mortgage and make a bit of profit to make it worthwhile being one.
The WEF term "you will own nothing and be happy" is becoming more apparent each year and the frightening thing for me is we now have a PM that prefers Davros to Westminster.
The way things are going, if tenant and landlord are not careful the only winner will be corporate and government.
Rant over.
As for me, I recently moved back into my home after my landlord totally renovated the flat after purchase, must of cost her noddles.
So even though I don't have shed loads of spare cash, my gift to her was to pay for a fitted oven and hob.. She didn't want a deposit either on the new lease but got a month anyway.
To you lot, the landlords out there, the good ones, thank you.

Downsize Government

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10:57 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Isn't the following incitement to commit criminal acts?
"Plant Japanese knotweed in the garden the day before you move out so their property value collapses, pour oil down the sink, steal absolutely everything that isn’t on the inventory even if you don’t want it, get active in your tenants’ union"

It's not free speech.

Rod

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11:12 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 08/11/2024 - 10:23
When evicted using S8, those who suggested S21 was unfair will find themselves picking up CCJs and the legal costs. Careful what you wish for.

GlanACC

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11:19 AM, 8th November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Rod at 08/11/2024 - 11:12
For someone I have evicted for arrears I have always given them a CCJ as it stuffs them for 6 years.

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